diff --git a/src/common/Makefile.am b/src/common/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+pkglib_LTLIBRARIES = libdistren.la
+
+libdistren_la_SOURCES = options.c options.h
+#evidently the following should not be LDADD, but LDFLAGS because automake doesn't like the idea of LDADD for libraries for some reason... or I am very confused
+libdistren_la_LIBADD = @DISTLIBS_LIBS@
+libdistren_la_CXXFLAGS = @DISTLIBS_CFLAGS@